FItness Health and Exercise

Fitness, health and exercise is a field that applies scientific understanding of the human body to the promotion of physical wellbeing, the improvement of fitness and the prevention of illness. It draws on exercise physiology, anatomy, nutrition, psychology and public health to understand how physical activity affects the body and mind, and how that understanding can be applied to help people lead healthier, more active lives. The field is relevant to a wide range of professional contexts, from personal training and sport coaching to corporate wellness, rehabilitation and community health promotion.

This two-year full-time programme at the University of the Highlands and Islands can be studied at different intensities, with options for both full-time and reduced-hours study. It provides a focused and practical foundation in fitness, health and exercise science, developing your knowledge of the physiological and psychological basis of fitness alongside practical skills in assessment, programme design and the delivery of exercise interventions for different populations. The programme is suited to students who wish to develop professional competence in health and fitness settings or to build a foundation for further study in sport, exercise or health sciences.

Graduates are prepared for entry-level roles in fitness instruction, personal training, health coaching, sport coaching and community health and wellbeing settings. Many work in gyms, leisure centres, corporate wellness programmes, schools and community organisations. The scientific grounding the programme provides is also a foundation for further study in sport and exercise science, physical education, health promotion, physiotherapy or related health and fitness disciplines at degree level.

Professional qualifications in personal training, fitness instruction or sport coaching are a natural complement to the academic programme for those working in these areas.